Govt To Proceed With Charter Amendment

[Jai Dee]

No Political War Group files letter against charter amendment

No Political War Group files an unsealed letter against charter amendment which may raise further conflicts.

Win Mektrairat (วินย์ เมฆไตรรัตน์), representative of “No Political War” group, submitted unsealed letter against the Constitutional amendment article 291, requesting the Government to discontinue taking the issue into the Parliament's consideration since it might intensify the ongoing conflicts in the nation.

Meanwhile, the group believed that the Constitutional amendment would profit only certain political party groups, but not the entire country as it would not ease up any economic or social crises at this point.

Source: National News Bureau of Thailand - 07 November 2008

[hammered]

Lets be blunt. The PPP wanna ram the consty ammendment through. Their opponents wanna stop it. Neither side knows what will happen when the full court press for the ammendment comes. A few delays suit everyone right now to see if womething gives. When the nuclear option is turned to we enter the realms of the unknown.

[sriracha john]

well...at least one member of this Party remembers the pre-conditions his Party established to joining the PPP coalition...

Matchima Thipataya MP concerned over making charter amendment into parliament agenda

Prachinburi MP of the Matchima Thipathaya Party Kiatkorn Pakpiansin has expressed disapproval over the instating of Constitution Article 291 amendment as parliament agenda, voicing concerns that it may spark a situation similar to October 7th.

The MP, acting as a member of the Government Whip, stated that House Speaker Chai Chidchob has arranged a meeting with Whip Chairman Witthaya Buranasiri as well as invited himself to discuss the parliament agenda for tomorrow's meeting.

Kriatikorn stated that he expects the amendment of Constitution Article 291 will be discussed during the meeting. He, however, expressed disapproval over the idea, stating that it may be an inappropriate time and should be postponed.

Kiatkorn said that the charter amendment may spark tensions similar to those that led to the October 7th incident and he would press for the government to divert its efforts to assisting the agriculture sector currently plagued by natural disaster instead.

Kiatkorn also voiced his wish for all sides, including the People's Alliance for Democracy and other opposition groups to cooperate in finding solutions to the political standoff as decisions made solely by the government are not suffice to please all groups. He remarked that if the charter amendment is made into parliament agenda, many MPs may refrain from attending the gathering.

- ThaiNews / 2008-11-10

Edited November 10, 2008 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

Government Whip to hold Constitution amendment until after Royal Cremation

Government Whip Chairman Witthaya Buranasiri revealed that the House Speaker has agreed to postpone instating the amendment Constitution Article 291 until after the Royal Cremation Ceremony.

The Whip Chairman spoke after meeting with House Speaker Chai Chidchob this morning and revealed that the parliament meeting tomorrow would only deal with pressing matters that are necessary for the administration of the government.

He assured that the amending of Constitution Article 291 and its subsequent establishment of a Constitution Drafting Assembly would be reviewed after the Royal Cremation Ceremony for the late Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana.

The Whip Chairman also remarked that the Whip wants the government to urgently review the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) law as it can aid the nation’s economy and not to benefit former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

- ThaiNews / 2008-11-10

[sriracha john]

House Speaker Chai Chidchob

House Speaker: No Charter Amendment on Agenda This Week

The House Speaker believes the amendment to article 291 of the Constitution will not be submitted as a motion at this week's Parliamentary meeting.

House Speaker Chai Chidchob said he has not sought a meeting with Government Whip Chief Witthaya Buranasiri to discuss including the amendment of article 291 of the Constitution at this week's Parliamentary meeting, as was said by the Prachinburi MP from the Matchima Thipataya Party, Kiatkorn Pakpiensilp.

He believes the motion will not be included in this week's Parliamentary meeting agenda, nor will it be added to the Parliamentary meeting on November 24, which will discuss an agreement between Thailand and South Korea. Chai said the government will most likely not be able to submit the motion in time.

Chai said if anti-government protesters surround Parliament on the day the motion for the charter amendment is submitted, the meeting can be postponed.

The amendment to article 291 of the Constitution will pave the way for the creation of a Constitution drafting assembly, which will be responsible for drafting a new version of the charter.

The charter amendment has been heavily criticized by many, including the opposition Democrat Party and the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy for being only for the benefit of the government.

The PAD has announced opposition to a charter amendment as one of the targets for its rally.

- TOC / 2008-11-10

[sriracha john]

Session may be extended to change charter

The government whip is considering extending the parliamentary session to allow the amendment of Articles 190 and 291 of the constitution. Chief whip Witthaya Buranasiri said parliament is scheduled to rise on Nov 28. The time remaining would be taken up with debating 12 agreements to be signed during the ASEAN summit in Chiang Mai on Dec 15. Witthaya said the parliamentary session might be extended to allow consideration of whether to amend Articles 190 and 291. Opponents of Article 190 say it hampers the government's position in negotiations with other countries. The amendment of Article 291 would clear the way for the setting up of a body to draft a new charter, a move being strongly pushed by the People Power Party. However, the FTA Watch group said Article 190 does not hamper Thailand's negotiating position. "If the government wants to boost its image by signing trade pacts in Chang Mai, these issues should have been sent to parliament 60 days before Dec 15," Jacques-chai Chomthongdi of the FTA Watch said. "The late submission is the government's problem, and not a flaw in the charter." He said the rush to alter Article 190 was only a ploy to justify some politicians' bids to rewrite the

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/211108_News/21Nov2008_news10.php

[sriracha john]

Ministry denies dam scheme graft, irregularities

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has denied irregularities in the much-publicised scheme to construct 119,600 check dams in the North. The flagship project of Minister Anongwan Thepsuthin, Leader of the Matchima Thipataya Party, has come under severe criticism from environmentalists and MPs over alleged corruption in handling the Billion Baht budget and the poor quality of the dams. The Samak Sundaravej government approved the project in March. It is part of the government's campaign to combat climate change through the rehabilitation of forests. The House and the Senate have launched an investigation into the alleged corruption, including that 3,500 baht out of the 5,000 baht budget set aside for each check dam went to politicians and state officials and only 1,500 baht was actually spent on the small dam.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/211108_News/21Nov2008_news07.php

============================================================================

AND...

Democrats claim graft rife in South funding

The Democrat Party struck a raw nerve with PM Somchai yesterday over alleged corruption in the budget for South-based security personnel and other goodwill projects during his first statement to Parliament. Democrat Party MP for Narathiwat Je-aming Tohtayong questioned what had happened to 167 Million Baht for spike-sweepers. After a thorough inspection, only 37 sweepers were in operation and there was no process of machine procurement, he said. "There is something fishy. A large amount of the budget was allocated for security personnel and other regional development projects, but nothing has materialised." "Where is the budget? Does it mean corruption? How seriously does Prime Minister Somchai take the South problem?" Mr Je-aming said. Somchai said a prior engagement overseas was the reason behind the postponement of spending the funds. Mr Je-aming said the premier had never ever talked about strategies to restore peace in the South. He had visited the region just once and was told everything was fine.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/211108_News/21Nov2008_news16.php

Edited November 21, 2008 by sriracha john

[animatic]

Of course they can't manage debate or ratification of the pending ASEAN documents,

before the time expires next week. They are the last unsigned government.

And of course they try to blame 'the charter' for that lack of action.

So the ASEAN host will not be a signator to the ASEAN protocols that they are leading in discussion.

Pathetic fools....

Edited November 21, 2008 by animatic

[Jai Dee]

No charter amendment on agenda: House Speaker

House Speaker Chai Chidchob reiterated on Friday that no constitutional amendment is on the agenda for a joint session between the House of Representatives and the Senate scheduled for November 24.

"I would immediately adjourn Monday's joint House/Senate meeting if any amendment motion was brought on for floor debate."

Chai urged the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) not to repeat its rally in October when they seized the Parliament.

His statement came as rumours spread that the joint session on Monday will be asked to consider the charter amendment proposal.

PAD have vowed to block any attempt to amend the charter, alleging that the government pushed for the amendment to pave the way for ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra to return home.

PAD-led protest, which managed to seize the Parliament which was scheduled to consider the amendment on October 7, turned violent when police fired tear gas into the crowd, killing one and injured many others.

The session was merely scheduled for the deliberation of about 40 international agreements which Thailand concluded with foreign countries. Article 190 of the Constitution calls for parliamentary approval of all government-to-government agreements.

Senate Speaker Prasopsuk Boondej said he would consult with Chai to see whether the MPs might meet at a venue other than Parliament Monday or whether such a joint session should be considered an urgent issue or not.

Source: The Nation - 21 November 2008

[sriracha john]

Ministry denies dam scheme graft, irregularities

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has denied irregularities in the much-publicised scheme to construct 119,600 check dams in the North. The flagship project of Minister Anongwan Thepsuthin, Leader of the Matchima Thipataya Party, has come under severe criticism from environmentalists and MPs over alleged corruption in handling the Billion Baht budget and the poor quality of the dams.

============================================================================

AND...

Democrats claim graft rife in South funding

The Democrat Party struck a raw nerve with PM Somchai yesterday over alleged corruption in the budget for South-based security personnel and other goodwill projects during his first statement to Parliament. Democrat Party MP for Narathiwat Je-aming Tohtayong questioned what had happened to 167 Million Baht for spike-sweepers.

AND...

Somsak insists his Cabinet position is safe

Justice Minister Somsak Kiatsuranond yesterday shrugged off speculation that he would be removed from the Somchai government in an upcoming Cabinet reshuffle. According to one news report, Somsak is a target in the Cabinet shake-up due to alleged irregularities in the disbursement of the public relations budgets at the ministry. He has been accused of ordering the ministry's agencies to award public relations projects to firms which have close ties to him. Somsak said he called PM Somchai yesterday to ask about the planned reshuffle and was assured that "everything was fine." Somsak also defended his proposal to ask for the allocation of 1.3 Billion Baht from the government's central budget to spend on a drug rehabilitation scheme known as Chit Asa.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/221108_News/22Nov2008_news11.php

[animatic]

PAD's blockage of Parliament will cause damages to country: PM

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...newsid=30089131

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said Sunday that the country would stand to lose if the People's Alliance for Democracy

blocks senators and MPs from approving the government's plan to ink trade pacts with other Asean countries.

What! They SUDDENLY are dealing with the ASEAN charter issue...

that they have ignored it till the last minute...

but it's PAD's fault if it doesn't get singed??

Utter tripe from the PM.

The weasel was saving this issue to hit PAD with it later.

No consideration of the actual trade agreement was stated as planned,

this ONLY came up after PAD said they are moving on Parlement.

It's just a cudgel to hit is enemies with.

B.S. from South American where he can't be blamed for the destcruction and mayhem.

Edited November 23, 2008 by animatic

[slimdog]

PAD's blockage of Parliament will cause damages to country: PM

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...newsid=30089131

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said Sunday that the country would stand to lose if the People's Alliance for Democracy

blocks senators and MPs from approving the government's plan to ink trade pacts with other Asean countries.

What! They SUDDENLY are dealing with the ASEAN charter issue...

that they have ignored it till the last minute...

but it's PAD's fault if it doesn't get singed??

Utter tripe from the PM.

The weasel was saving this issue to hit PAD with it later.

No consideration of the actual trade agreement was stated as planned,

this ONLY came up after PAD said they are moving on Parlement.It's just a cudgel to hit is enemies with.

B.S. from South American where he can't be blamed for the destcruction and mayhem.

This was published in Thailand Outlook Channel (TOC) web page on the 19th of this month following this weeks cabinet meeting.

source: http://www.thailandoutlook.tv/toc/ViewData...?DataID=1010621

[Los78]

Good luck to the governemnt amendning the mess of a charter the junta scribbled out. Although I feel the PAD mob becoming violent as it is "The final war". A lot of little kids with their gogogaga clap toys will be out at parliament tomorrow. Hopefully after the final... final war we can all get back to preparing for the economic slowdown next year.

[sriracha john]

A scam is thwarted...

Can government hold on until charter is rewritten?

The government hid its plan to start the process of rewriting the charter under the cover of ASEAN pact legislation but the plan was exposed. Now it wishes to push for the charter amendment again on Dec 8-9, but will it survive until then? The PAD declared victory after foiling the House-Senate meeting at the parliament yesterday. Although the alliance did not totally put paid to the charter-rewriting plan, at least it pushed the session back to Dec 8-9 which is close to the time when the ruling PPP is expected to hear a ruling on its dissolution case, possibly on Dec 15. Although House Speaker Chai Chidchob earlier claimed the Parliament needed a meeting yesterday only to endorse the ASEAN pact legislation, he did not expect MPs to study the issue thoroughly before voting on it at all. He scheduled ASEAN pact legislation as the second issue on yesterday's agenda. Its details had just been sent to MPs on Friday although it was set for voting on yesterday. Importantly, Chai placed the constitutional amendment bill that Weng Tojirakarn, a pro-government activist, proposed as the first issue of yesterday's parliament agenda. Chai included the bill, although that seemed to be illegal because Article 291 of the present constitution has not been rewritten to pave the way for any further constitutional amendment.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/251108_News/25Nov2008_news05.php

Edited November 25, 2008 by sriracha john

[animatic]

If they want to do this re-write, they walk in with it pre-written,

sit everyone down, talk about the ASEAN stuff, vote on one,

and suddenly hand out the charter re-write

and say ok 5 minutes to read it, up and down vote, you KNOW how to vote.

Passed, and on to ASEAN business, after the sesion announce it is done.